Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ACTA PAEDIATRICA, cilt.114, sa.10, ss.2651-2655, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
AimTurkish healthcare staff faced significant challenges managing paediatric trauma patients after the major 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes, which killed more than 50 000 people. We describe how our large referral centre treated complex cases, particularly crush-related injuries, and discuss both outcomes and hospital organisation.MethodsThis study retrospectively analysed data from paediatric patients who were admitted to our tertiary paediatric intensive care unit at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Children's Hospital, which was 595 km from the epicentre of the earthquake. Patient data, including demographics, injury patterns, management strategies, and outcomes were extracted from electronic medical records.ResultsThe 29 patients (62.1% female) had a median age of 10.3 (range 2-17) years. Compartment syndrome occurred in 93.1% of the patients, and 77.8% of these underwent fasciotomies. Amputations, without prior fasciotomies, were performed in three cases. Crush syndrome developed in 82.8% of the patients, and 58.3% underwent kidney replacement therapy. None of the patients required long-term haemodialysis. An effective disaster response plan, multidisciplinary management, and early intervention were essential factors in optimising outcomes.ConclusionCrush syndrome, compartment syndrome, and acute kidney injuries were the most common complications after the earthquake, and our well-executed disaster response plan optimised outcomes.